This is especially true if you carry a gun for personal defense.
One of the big advantages the autopistol holds over the revolvers of old is greater continuity of fire.
You just may be that anomaly!
Reloading a pistol is an essential skill. In a defensive encounter, it carries a high cost if you are unable to do so efficiently.
I know many gun users, particularly police officers, array their spare magazines horizontally on the belt.
For some, it may be more comfortable, but I find it far less efficient.
Magazine carriers can be crafted from leather or synthetic material and worn outside or inside the waistband.
From slide lock on an empty gun, should you engage the slide lock lever or manipulate the slide on a reload?
For police duty wear, I have long favored open-top magazine carriers versus those with a snap pouch.
Personal favorites are the Slimline pouches from Safariland which are vertical carriers that array the magazines face forward.
On occasion, circumstances you cant control may cause you to shoot to lock back.
When reloading, bend your arms slightly to bring the pistol in closer to the body. With a little practice, you can reload without looking and keep your focus on the problem area.
I like to bend the elbows and bring the gun in close to my workstation closer to the body.
Focus should remain downrange on the threat area rather than the gun.
Both the strong hand and support side hand are in motion.
The Magna-Clip is one of the author’s preferred methods of carrying a spare magazine. It slips into your pocket and uses a strong magnet to keep the magazine from bouncing around.
The most common mistake in achieving an efficient reload is the way the magazine is removed from the pouch.
The proper way to retrieve that fresh magazine is as follows.
A practiced hand can do this in about two seconds.
A speed reload is accomplished with the slide forward. If possible, reload when you can, not when you have to.
As a left-hand shooter, the slide release was on the wrong side.
Today, pistols with ambidextrous controls are quite common, and this has opened up new horizons for me.
Pulling the slide back and letting it go works every time.
The emergency reload with the slide locked to the rear and chamber empty requires an extra step.
Do what works best for you!
Personally, I prefer an overhand grip over the rear of the slide.
As long as you could do this safely, do what you are most comfortable with.
When operating the pistol slide, you can pinch the rear as shown on this Echelon — which has raised “tabs” at the rear to help facilitate this — or curl your hand over the top of the slide.
Is the Tactical Reload Practical?
There will be plenty of time to find that partially depleted magazine later.
Get some dummy rounds and let the games begin.
Under extreme stress, managing two objects in one hand and a pistol in the other may be impossible. The classic tactical reload is best utilized in the sterile environment of the range.
Holster, retrieve your magazine, and repeat.
And this can make all the difference.
These SWAT officers practice reloading with Springfield Armory Echelon 9mm pistols.
